Saturday, February 04, 2006

Pastoral Prayer for Sunday

On Sunday, August 28, 2005, I didn't go to Little Church. The night before I got a call from an elder suggesting that the weather didn't look good and that I would have a difficult time going home after worship. I agreed to stay home knowing that I'd be busy packing up, corralling animals to carriers and watching our home and office get boarded up.

What I didn't know, although I was glued to the Weather Channel and local updates, was that the waters were rising Sunday morning. National Guard Chaplain says the water behind his home, hundreds of feet away from his house, rose up and came into his yard that morning.

What I didn't know was that my neighborhood, county and state would be damaged beyond imagination in 24 hours.

What I didn't know was that I wouldn't see my LH and LS for almost a month after the storm. I knew where they were but without good phone service, every time the cell rang, I careened into it hoping for the best. Dire reports of death, disease and disaster poured out of the phone.

What I didn't know was our country cannot protect citizens in a disaster. And, won't, because cronies ran the system and didn't give a rats patootie about us.

In your pastoral prayer tomorrow, the prayer where you intercede on behalf of your people for help, courage and mercy, please remember us.

Remember your human relatives in Mississippi and Louisiana. Many are displaced, homeless, broke, tired and miserable. Look around your own world and think to yourself, how soon would my world look "normal" if the infrastructure became useless? If the majority of homes and businesses were damaged beyond repair? If your home, your car, your Mamma's home and car, and your job were gone, how long would it take you to feel "normal"?

Please pray for us. Please keep our suffering before you so that your compassion flows.

Many of our old people moved away to be with their children. We miss them. Many of our old people died after the storm, just couldn't take it anymore. Too tired, too old, too stressed.

The "Katrina Zone" is hard on everyone. Tempers flare, attitudes soar; we are worn out.

Pray for us.

St. Casserole

9 comments:

Unknown said...

We continue to pray for you. Next Sunday night we will have a program about my trip to be with you and will raise more funds for hurricane relief.

Sue said...

Praying here too...

Anonymous said...

Have just re-read Alas Babylon, Pat Frank's 1959 masterpiece about life in post-nuclear attack America. I first read it at age 13 and it made a huge impression.

This time, what stood out most for me was the similarities to the Katrina situation. The government wasn't prepared and didn't seem able to get off its fanny to be active.

Nor is the country/government better prepared NOW for such a disaster than we were before Katrina, even though we all know the emperor has no clothes.

It's a feeling of abandonment when you thought you were provided for, and betrayal when you learn that you are not.

We have not forgotten.

Jules said...

Yesterday in worship, I read part of your post during the sharing of joys and concerns.

We remembered y'all.

The members of this congregation who are down there have written to tell me what a blessing it is to be among your people.

St. Casserole said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Anonymous said...

We prayed and used your words in doing so. Thank you--

see-through faith said...

we didn't pray and wish we had :(
our church doesn't do things like pray for others -it's sad but true - and last Sunday we had the presidential election here in Finland (big news -huh? bet you didn't even hear of it lol!) and we didn't even pray for that.

I'm more and more disillusioned :( and not only by govt's inability to protect its citizens (which I think I'd always suspected) but by the reality that so much of the body of Christ is self absorbed and not attached to the body in any way.

but St. C please know that my love is flying over the atlantic and my prayers are ascending to the One who really does care for you

love Lorna x

see-through faith said...

we didn't pray and wish we had :(
our church doesn't do things like pray for others -it's sad but true - and last Sunday we had the presidential election here in Finland (big news -huh? bet you didn't even hear of it lol!) and we didn't even pray for that.

I'm more and more disillusioned :( and not only by govt's inability to protect its citizens (which I think I'd always suspected) but by the reality that so much of the body of Christ is self absorbed and not attached to the body in any way.

but St. C please know that my love is flying over the atlantic and my prayers are ascending to the One who really does care for you

love Lorna x

Kathryn said...

Just back from foreign parts...here, when I lead daily prayers I always include a space to pray for those who have dropped from the news headlines but who are still struggling...
And that's when I pray for you.
Every day.
Would still love to come if you think I might be of any use at all...tried to email but perhaps they didn't reach you? I'm at myfullname@tiscali.co.uk and would be glad to hear your thoughts...
Meanwhile, hugs and love